Hibiscus plant named ‘America Irene Scott’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Hibiscus  plant named ‘America Irene Scott’, characterized by its compact, upright and somewhat outwardly spreading plant habit; freely branching habit; green and yellow variegated leaves; large double pink-colored flowers with numerous petaloids; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Hibiscus syriacus.

Cultivar denomination: ‘America Irene Scott’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofHibiscus, botanically known as Hibiscus syriacus, commercially known asRose-of-Sharon or Althea, and hereinafter referred to by the name‘America Irene Scott’.

The new Hibiscus plant is a naturally-occurring branch mutation ofHibiscus syriacus ‘Lady Stanley’, not patented. The new Hibiscus plantwas discovered and selected by the Inventor during the summer of 2001from within a population of plants of the parent in a controlled outdoornursery environment in Independence, Mo.

Asexual reproduction of the new Hibiscus plant by softwood cuttings in acontrolled greenhouse environment in Independence, Mo. since July, 2001has shown that the unique features of this new Hibiscus plant are stableand reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexualreproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Hibiscus have not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature andlight intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘America Irene Scott’. Thesecharacteristics in combination distinguish ‘America Irene Scott’ as anew and distinct cultivar of Hibiscus:

-   -   1. Compact, upright and somewhat outwardly spreading plant        habit.    -   2. Freely branching habit.    -   3. Green and yellow variegated leaves.    -   4. Large double pink-colored flowers with numerous petaloids.    -   5. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of the parent,‘Lady Stanley’. Plants of the new Hibiscus differ from plants of ‘LadyStanley’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hibiscus are slower growing than and not as        vigorous as plants of ‘Lady Stanley’.    -   2. Plants of the new Hibiscus have variegated leaves whereas        plants of ‘Lady Stanley’ do not have variegated leaves.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of the Hibiscussyriacus ‘Purpurea Variegata’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisonsconducted in Grand Haven, Mich., plants of the new Hibiscus differedfrom plants of ‘Purpurea Variegata’ primarily in flowering habit asplants of ‘Purpurea Variegata’ did not produce flowers. In addition,plants of the new Hibiscus were slower-growing than and not as vigorousas plants of ‘Purpurea Variegata’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Hibiscus, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Hibiscus.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a side perspective view ofa typical plant of ‘America Irene Scott’ grown in a container in anoutdoor nursery.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a close-up view of a typicalflower and flower buds of ‘America Irene Scott’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown in Grand Haven, Mich. during the summerin an outdoor nursery and under conditions which closely approximatecommercial production. Plants had been growing for three years when thephotographs and the description were taken. In the description, colorreferences are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart,1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Hibiscus syriacus ‘America Irene Scott’.-   Parentage: Naturally-occurring branch mutation of Hibiscus syriacus    ‘Lady Stanley’, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By softwood cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots.—About 25 days at 22° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About four months at            22° C.        -   Root description.—Thick.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Perennial shrub. Compact,            upright and somewhat outwardly spreading plant habit.            Moderately vigorous growth habit.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, usually about 37 lateral            branches develop per plant after pinching (removal of            terminal apices).        -   Plant height.—About 2.5 meters.        -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 1.25 meters.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Length.—About 46 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 5 mm.        -   Internode length.—About 3.7 cm.        -   Texture, immature.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Texture, mature.—Woody.        -   Color, immature.—Close to 138B.        -   Color, mature.—Close to 197C.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple.        -   Length.—About 7 cm.        -   Width.—About 4 cm.        -   Shape.—Rhomboidal, tri-lobed.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Cuneate.        -   Margin.—Crenate; tri-lobed.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper and lower surfaces: Close to            137C; towards the margins, close to 160C. Fully expanded            leaves, upper surface: Close to 138A; towards the margins,            close to 160B to 160C; venation, close to 138B. Fully            expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 138B; towards the            margins, close to 160C; venation, close to 138B.        -   Petiole.—Length: About 6 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Texture,            upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and            lower surfaces: Close to 138A to 138B.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower appearance/arrangement.—Double rotate flowers;            terminal and axillary. Freely flowering habit with usually            about 15 flowers developing per lateral branch. Flowers face            upright to outwardly.        -   Flower longevity.—Flowers last for about one to two days on            the plant. Flowers not persistent.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants typically flower from July            to September in Michigan.        -   Flower diameter.—About 6.5 cm.        -   Flower depth.—About 3 cm.        -   Flower bud.—Length: About 1 cm. Diameter: About 9 mm. Shape:            Ovate. Color: Close to 138B.        -   Petals.—Arrangement/quantity: Single whorl of five petals;            petals imbricate. Length: About 3.5 cm. Width: About 2.5 cm.            Shape: Broadly elliptic to obovate. Apex: Obtuse. Base:            Attenuate. Margin: Entire; undulate. Texture, upper and            lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening and            fully opened, upper surface: Close to 62D; towards the base            and venation, close to 60A. Color fades towards 155D with            development. When opening and fully opened, lower surface:            Close to 62D.        -   Petaloids.—Arrangement/quantity: About 46 petaloids in            several whorls; petaloids imbricate. Length: Variable            depending on stage of development, about 0.5 cm to 2.5 cm.            Width: Variable depending on stage of development, about 0.2            cm to 1.5 cm. Shape: Obovate to spatulate. Apex: Obtuse.            Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire; undulate. Texture, upper            and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening,            upper and lower surfaces: Close to 62D. Fully opened, upper            and lower surfaces: Close to 62D; towards the base and            venation, close to 60A.        -   Sepals.—Appearance: Five sepals fused into a star-shaped            calyx. Length: About 1.7 cm. Width: About 8 mm. Shape:            Roughly ovate. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper            and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, immature and            mature, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 138B; towards the            margins, close to 160B to 160C.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 1.4 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.            Strength: Strong, flexible. Texture: Smooth, glabrous.            Angle: About 40° from the stem. Color: Close to 138B.        -   Reproductive organs.—None observed, all transformed into            petaloids.        -   Seeds/fruits.—Seed and fruit development have not been            observed on plants of the new Hibiscus plant.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Hibiscus have been observed to    have excellent garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind and    temperatures ranging from about −20° C. to about 35° C.-   Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new Hibiscus have not been    shown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Hibiscus.

1. A new and distinct Hibiscus plant named ‘America Irene Scott’ asillustrated and described.